Describe your job.
I belong to the exotic breed of copywriter/art director, all in one body. I started as a CW, but I always liked art direction, and now at W+K I officially started doing both. My partner is also a native CW, which is an advantage. When we have to write, we write together. When we have to art direct, we try really hard together. Jokes aside, our comps are awesome.
What’s your creative advice?
My advice for creatives is to keep thinking, no matter what. There are only two possible outcomes: either you quit or decide to die because you can’t cope with the pressure, or you come up with the idea you were looking for.
I also try to do the heavy thinking in the morning, when I know I’m more productive. Normally I come up with concepts in the morning and then use the rest of the day to flesh them out. Knowing when you’re more productive and blocking that time to think is really helpful.
Essential New York:
Buenos Aires restaurant in the East Village. The closest you’ll be to a real Argentinian asado in NYC. Vegan folks, you better stay in Brooklyn.
The FDR. Yes, the highway. I love it. The bridges, the river, helicopters, buildings, traffic jams with crazy drivers on the phone. It’s such an experience. All the different sides of NY are just one Lyft ride away. Sorry Yellow Cab.
Summer in the city. I love the energy. New Yorkers become this really happy herd after months of winter-induced cabin fever. Bars, outdoor concerts, street fairs...hell, even Times Square is nice in the summer.
Inside my brain:
I used to read everything I could get my hands on. Then my daughter was born. Now I’m lucky if I can squeeze in an article between rounds of Trolls and Coco. But I can recommend a couple of books and podcasts that I love:
Just Kids by Patti Smith. It’s a great memoir that captures all the things that made New York in the '70s so exciting. The audiobook, narrated by Patti herself, is also great.
The Autobiography of Malcom X. He narrates his story and also creates a portrayal of the Black Muslim struggle in America. And if you’re into something lighter, Murakami’s Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is cool too.
I also listen to podcasts a lot. I recommend two that are very different from each other. Invisibilia, which talks about invisible things that shape human behavior and David O’Reilly’s the Critical Podcast, a great satire about podcasts. It’s a bit long but you’ll laugh a lot too.
What would you like to plug?
A close friend of mine, Alvaro Naddeo. He is also a creative but most importantly a great artist. He used to live in NY and you can see the city’s influence in his work. I have a couple of his paintings, so if he gets famous I could sell them for millions! Check him out here.
Mood:
I recently saw these great photos by Erika Morillo. She went to Coney Island and really captured the essence of the place. Enjoy!
